South-central Kansas CO₂ Project

A group of KU Petroleum Engineering students and faculty participated in a field trip the Wellington Field CO₂ injection site on April 19th, 2016. Berexco and KGS staff gave the students a first-hand look at the active injection operations and how the CO₂-EOR flood technologies are being applied at Wellington Field.

Dana Wreath and Jason Bruns show the group a typical down-hole packer that is commonly used in their Mississippian wells. For many, this was a rare opportunity to see an example of this tool up-close and hear a description of how the equipment is installed.

Adam Beren, President of Berexco, LLC. gave an informative presentation to the group about the history of Wellington Field and oil production trends in Kansas. A copy of the presentation is provided for reference.

Brett Blazer, field engineer with Berexco, shows the group how oil cut and fluid level tests are conducted at each well in front of Wellington Unit #73.

Berexco field crew conduct a fluid level measurement using an echo meter while KGS, KU, and other Berexco visitors observe.

D) Brett Blazer calibrates the echo meter for the fluid measurement readings.

Measurements from the fluid level test are printed from the echo meter. Brett Blazer reviews the output for completeness.

Brett Blazer demonstrates how produced fluid is measured and estimated from Wellington Unit #73.

Roy Shepherd takes an oil cut reading from Wellington Unit #73. He explains that the foamy appearance of the oil is unusual, and is indicative of the presence of CO₂ from the reservoir. These observations are continually noted from sampling performed around the field, and details are recorded into a KGS data page for the Wellington CO₂ flood.

The crew views the CO₂ monitoring gauge installed at Wellington Unit #61, along side the gas-phase separator that was installed to capture any produced CO₂.

Dana Wreath and Jason Bruns explain how total produced fluid is estimated from Wellington Unit #61. Note the appearance of the produced fluids entering the barrel that is used to conduct the on-site tests.

A view of the new S. Erker stock tank battery that was added to capture the additional production from the CO₂ wells.

Charlie Miller measures the percent CO₂ composition of the vented gas at the S Erker tank battery. About 5.4% CO₂ was detected, indicating the arrival of CO₂ in one of the surrounding wells. This information, along with finer details recorded from each well, will help researchers identify the behavior and characteristics of the CO₂ plume within the reservoir.

Jason Bruns vents excess CO₂ vapor from the KGS 2-32 wellhead.

A demonstration to explain how a pressure buildup of gaseous CO₂ can be vented from CO₂ storage tank lines. Safety valves and emergency shutoff systems are in place throughout the entire series of lines.

Jason begins venting gaseous CO₂ trapped within storage tank lines from one of the available devices.

Dana Wreath walks through the journey of CO₂ as it travels from one of the six on-site storage tanks down to the Mississippian reservoir through the KGS 2-32 well head. Throughout this process, he stops to note a number of gauges and meters that have been installed to monitor temperature, pressure, and other important data that will be used to evaluate the CO₂ injection.

Adam Beren gives closing remarks to the group, reminding the students that Berexco promotes its outreach program by offering internships to many current and graduating KU Petroleum Engineering students each year.

Jason Bruns and Charlie Miller with Berexco inspecting the CO₂ lines at the KGS 2-32 injection well site. Note the frost on the pipelines due to the cold temperature of the CO₂.

Testing the pressure bleed-off valves for CO₂ lines.

Next test of the bleed-off valve for high pressure CO₂, which is offset from the well site for safety precautions.

View of the Spoc control panel system that regulates pressures and injection rates of the CO₂ injection well. All data is recorded and transmitted digitally over cellular networks to a shared database for real-time monitoring purposes.

Field crew taking readings for CO₂ percent composition of vented gas at Wellington Unit #61.

Example of CO₂% composition analyzer. Vented gas was reading approximately 100% CO₂ at well #61.

Jason Bruns conducting an oil cut measurement at wellington unit #61. The sharp increase in oil cut is believed to be due to the ongoing CO₂-EOR injection.

Berexco field crew conducting a fluid level measurement test with an echometer at wellington unit #61. Measurements are recorded biweekly to monitor pressure fluctuations and changes in the Mississippian formation, which is the target producing reservoir in the CO₂-EOR flood.

Output from the echometer, which is used to determine fluid levels in each well.

Dana Wreath speaks with a CO₂ delivery truck driver. The driver explained the process he follows when transferring CO₂ to one of the 5 storage tanks on-site. Each delivery takes approximately 30 minutes, with trucks arriving periodically throughout the day.

Dana Wreath introduces one of two tank batteries that collected produced fluids from Wellington Field wells. The yellow gas separator column collects and measures volumes of produced CO₂ along with any natural gas.

Brent Campbell (left) demonstrates his procedure for sampling and filtering the produced brines from each of the key wells involved in the CO₂-EOR flood. Measurements including pH, alkalinity, and TDS are taken in the field with probes to be compared with laboratory results at a later time. Approximately 17 wells and 2 stock tanks are being analyzed for geochemical data.

The team observes measurements being taken at unit #35.

% CO₂ composition reading of vented gas.

Jason Bruns and Brett Blazer with Berexco explain the methodology to determine oil cut at unit #35. Here, Jason shows that only a film of oil is present in the sample, indicating little to no oil production. This is consistent with the low concentration of CO₂ that was detected for the well.

28.54) Dana Wreath and KGS staff stand around the future site of the Arbuckle CO₂ injection well. This activity is currently awaiting approval of a EPA Class VI permit application that was submitted June 2014.

Berexco crew resumes injection in unit #55 per guidance from engineers to enhance the CO₂-EOR flood. Field pressures are highly controlled throughout Wellington Field due to Berexco's ability to adjust production and injection rates as necessary to enhance the CO₂ flood.

These photos were taken in March 2016. The photos are of the new East Nelson tank battery, gas separator, and meter that were installed in Wellington Field to account for the enhanced oil production and to monitor produced gases from the CO₂ injection.

These photos were taken on January 13th, 2016 at the site of the ongoing Mississippian CO₂-EOR injection near Wellington, Kansas. As of January 13th, approximately 1,600 barrels of CO₂ were injected into the Mississippian well.

Dana Wreath, V.P. of Berexco, addressing field crew from Berexco and Linde about the intended injection. The SW corner of the yard shown in the photo will be used to house 2 more portables provided by Linde. If existing storage tanks are full, these will be used as overflow for additional deliveries. The CO₂ supply is coming primarily from Enid and Woodward, OK.

CO₂ transfer pump from Linde delivery truck to on-site storage tanks.

North side of the facility area. Shows plenty of space for trucks to move in and out.

Photo of the main control screen of the Spoc controller for the CO₂ injection monitoring. All monitoring data will be web accessible to the crew to evaluate the operation in real time.

Internal components of the CO₂ meter. On bottom left there's a cylindrical silver metal data port where all data can be accessed, downloaded, and saved. Hookup involves a common cable for data transfer with usb cable on other end.

NuFlo meter display for CO₂ injected at KGS 2-32. This image shows about a 10 truck per day rate (1 truck is ~110-120 bbls liquid volume).

Picture of the triplex pump system. Includes a round high pressure analog gauge right on the pump to display tubing pressure. Gray unit on top with copper wires is to lubricate the pump.

Silver line coming out of ground on left is the water line coming out of the well. The water line is shut off in this photo. Water flood water line has max pressure of only around 400 psi. Have separate metering for water and CO₂. Water is available from a separate tank for emergencies to inject water down the well at high pressure (water can be injected with the triplex pump at ~2500 psi).

Back of a Linde storage tank. Electronic control valves that are operated by the controller (in blue). Circular gauge shows the liquid percentage that the tank is full.

Shows overall injection and monitoring setup: 3 of 4 storage tanks, pump, etc. Spoc control panel in back by the fence.

Another view of setup. At wellhead, the master shutoff valve, white CO₂ line at top right, high pressure ball valve if need to hook a truck up. Pressure transducer at top of pole (gray circular device). Blue device on ground in the center is the charge pump--cannot exceed more than ~350 psi (takes liquid out of storage tanks and pumps to the triplex pump, where it is then sent down the well).

Another picture of the CO₂ flow meter.

Another view of same setup.

Centrifugal pump.

Photo of Jason Bruns, field operations with Berexco, looking at back of storage tanks. Operations do not require hearing safety equipment or specialized gear.

Little black labels on tanks--distinguish between vapor and liquid CO₂. Tied into the storage tanks either at top or bottom. Can optionally pull liquid or vapor from tanks. When drivers arrive, they can clearly see which tanks are lowest liquid levels. If any individual tank gets below 10% liquid, the blue control valve closes.

Shows 4 Linde storage tanks, injection trucks are behind them.

Shows a delivery truck from Woodward, OK, backing up to the left storage tank.

There is a small centrifugal pump under the center of the truck that pumps it to the tank. Any gas in the lines is vented out until liquid is present, then pumps out. Tanks have a liquid level on the front and back. Tanks are higher on the loading side so the liquid runs down to side we pump from. The levels are about 10-15% different depending on the side where the meter is being read.

Photos show the delivery of the first CO₂ storage tank from Linde (the primary CO₂ supplier) that arrived at the KGS 2-32 CO₂-EOR Mississippian injection well on December 18, 2015. We expect to start injecting CO₂ in early January 2016.